Seizure at Disney

[Tripletmom2001]

Good Afternoon. We recently returned home from our 7th Disney vacation. Our 1st was when our boys were 4 years old and now they are 15. One of my sons had tonic clonic seizures from the age of 6 to 8 years old. He remained on medication until he was 11 years old. His last seizure was in the spring of 2009. He loves space mountain, soarin and test track. The last day of our 5 days at Disney, our family was at Epcot and had an evening fast pass to ride Test Track. We had all ridden the morning before. My son suffered a tonic clonic seizure on the ride. Disney handled everything appropriately. We were very lucky that he was on test track and not on a coaster where he could have been injured. I've reviewed the threads about seizures at Disney. I was just wondering if there are rides that parents avoid with their children who have seizures. We kept close to our regular schedule at home, had table service dining once or twice every day (because of the anticipated Thanksgiving crowds) and never rushed to the parks for opening. I really felt like this vacation was a lot slower pace than our typical Disney vacation. Thanks!

 

[mamabunny]

This page is a place to start:

Services for Guests with Disabilities

Look specifically at the section titled "Lighting Sensitivity" as it discusses seizure disorder.

 

[Nevada Jen]

Can I ask how they handled the seizure? My DD has them and I am terrified she will have a big one (Tonic CLonic) on a ride. Usually by our last day in parks she is having small ones on every ride but I doubt anyone even notices. I am terrified of a big one! I suspect your 15 year old was not at all happy to have a big seizure (doesn't that effect his ability to get a drivers permit?)

 

[gap2368]

I am pretty sure Disney will want to call for paramedic to at lest take and look and make sure she is ok ( I have been hurt on ride was total fin and Disney instead on calling) I have also passes out ( I do this if I Amin a crowded area and normally I wake up pretty fast, but again Disney inset on calling paramedic ) they do get there fast and for me when I pass out they will just check my BP but a 12 lead hart maniter on me ( tell me you know you have an arttma me yes I know) they ask if I am ok I say yes then off I go. but I do not have a seizure disorder but I am pretty sure they will treat her the same way as when someone passes out. the CM are great about things they will have a few CM around her to give her room and asking guest too move along ( so there will not be a lot of people staring over her. and they will make sure your DD is ok and if there is something she need or wants they are really good at getting it ( water an extra FP incase you miss you and some times just because, I was really cold after I passed out and and a CM walked up with a blanket and told me it was on Mickey ever asked for it) yes it dose suck to for something like this to happen but Disney dose a good job at keeping guest safe and comfortable ( just a side note this is just what hapend to me )

 

[Tripletmom2001]

Can I ask how they handled the seizure? My DD has them and I am terrified she will have a big one (Tonic CLonic) on a ride. Usually by our last day in parks she is having small ones on every ride but I doubt anyone even notices. I am terrified of a big one! I suspect your 15 year old was not at all happy to have a big seizure (doesn't that effect his ability to get a drivers permit?)

Disney handled it very well. He was not conscious when the ride ended. The CM shut down the ride and the paramedics arrived in a matter of minutes. The paramedics assessed him and transferred him to a stretcher. They cleared his airway and gave him blow by oxygen. He started to respond after the oxygen. The paramedics do have medication to stop a seizure too in case you daughter ever has status epilepticus. They offered 3 options - don't transport, transport to children's hospital or transport to nearest hospital. Since it had been 7 1/2 years since his last seizure, we opted to have him transferred to the nearest hospital. (I was glad to hear that not transporting was an option since the hospital doesn't do anything for a seizure.) We wanted to make sure nothing else was going on. We were staying on site and Disney took care of our cab fares. It does effect him getting a driver's permit. We need to weigh our options of starting back on meds.